Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Mr. Steve Ayorinde has reiterated the government’s strong interest in having the National Theatre, Iganmu, ceded to Lagos by the Federal Government. He said considering the state of the theatre, it required a strong, committed and competent manager capable of restoring the various facilities originally provided by the 41-year-old edifice. Ayorinde, who spoke while hosting representatives of the Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN) in his office in Lagos, disclosed… Read more

The National Theatre Complex in Iganmu, Lagos, was unusually quiet yesterday - which was Boxing Day. Only few picnickers were there to catch fun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was little to suggest that Boxing Day was taking place in the premises as the usual carnival-like atmosphere was absent. NAN reports that only handful of people were seen in the open ground overlooking the theatre as well as other spots around the premises. Patronage was low… Read more

THE Senate yesterday resolved to ask the Federal Government to halt the planned sale of the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos and the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The upper chamber said rather than sell the monuments, government should as a matter of urgency declare the TBS and the National Arts Theatre, the President's house at Marina, the Prime Minister's Lodge Onikan and the National Assembly Complex, Lagos as national monuments. It asked the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture… Read more

SIR: The news making the round about the federal government’s plan to concession the National Theatre cannot be said to be a palatable one. And if the news is true then such a plan must be resisted by all patriotic Nigerians. To conceive the idea of concessioning a national monument of that importance is most unpatriotic and an insult to the sensibility of Nigerians. I hold this opinion much because such a plan is nothing but a plot to sell… Read more

Sir: This year, the National Theatre celebrates its 41st anniversary as the apex and iconic conference and arts exhibition centre in Nigeria and Africa. For the theatre, it’s a period to review the past and appraise its present status with a view to projecting into a new future especially as the national monument has just worn a new garment of visionary and responsible leadership; a leadership that is focused on fighting the tripod of poor leadership, mismanagement of resources and… Read more

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arrested four directors of The National Theatre in Lagos for alleged embezzlement of government funds. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four directors, including a woman, were picked up at their Iganmu office for allegedly diverting “huge sums” of revenue and statutory allocation into private use. NAN learnt that the directors allegedly failed to remit revenues realised from the use of facilities at the National Theatre… Read more

struggling to make culture a new treasure trove It is going into the second year that the popular Artists’ Village, located some few metres away from the iconic National Theatre, Iganmu, in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, was demolished by a raging bulldozer. This brings to many minds the invasion of the residence of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the country’s biggest musical export and inventor of Afrobeat. In the seventies, Fela’s house named Kalakuta Republic was invaded by unknown soldiers and… Read more

SIR: The new Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, veteran artist and renowned promoter of African culture, Comrade Tar Ukoh, surely has a challenging task at hand as he is assuming the headship of the complex at a time the company is in dire need of serious re-organisation and restructuring. A chance visit to the Theatre a few days ago exposed me to the reality on ground at the company. Just like the misfortune that has befallen most of… Read more

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has concluded arrangements to begin the construction of writers’ village at Mpape, Maitama extension of the FCT on Friday. Malam Denja Abdullahi, the National President of ANA made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. Abdullahi explained that the project had been on the drawing board since a piece of land was allocated to the association in 1985 by late Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa, then Minister of… Read more

Prof Ahmed Parker Yerima is 60. The widely-travelled scholar, accomplished playwright and former Managing Director of the National Troupe and National Theatre was born on May 8, 1957. He has written several plays on diverse social and cultural issues. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, he speaks on his foray into theatre, the academia and more. Excerpts: Turning 60 I feel grateful to God and man. It is a rewarding experience because I am able to live and see my… Read more

A non-governmental organisation Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI) will tomorrow present a stage play on Rhesus factor to mark its 10th anniversary. The play entitled Bite the Myth, is to be presented in a Theatre for Development (TFD) style at the Cinema Hall One of the National Theatre, Iganmu. RSI President/ Initiator Mrs Olufunmilayo Banire said this at a briefing in Lagos to mark RSI 10th anniversary. Mrs Banire said the event will be chaired by a professor of Haematology and… Read more

Life has finally returned to the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Until recently, events that were supposed to be held at the Theatre were either shelved or shifted to other venues. The reason for this was clear to all close watchers and followers of events in the theatre sector to see. It was due to the intransigent nature of the former General Manager of the Theatre named Kabir Yusuf. His primary intention was to deny the Theatre of lively and social… Read more

The beauty of this year’s World Theatre Day (WTD) celebrations were the array of plays put in place to mark the day. From 24th to 27th March, the theatre scene in Lagos was alive. It was when theatre artistes put their differences in the cooler to ensure a successful celebration to make artistes feel happy and proud of their profession. With the new play titled Beyond the Garb written and directed by Ayo Jaiyesimi of the Thespian Theatre Family as the lead… Read more